Bobbin chuck device



United States Patent O 3,093,332 EQBBIN CHUCK DEVEE Robert C. Jackson, Pensacola, Fia, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Monsanto (Iheinical Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 159,342 4 Claims. ((Il. Ciel-46.6)

This invention relates to a bobbin chuck device of the type adapted primarily for use in textile operations to rotatably carry bobbins, pirns, tubes, and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved bobbin chuck device providing flexible grip means that serve to positively grip a bobbin mounted thereon and to effectively counteract undesirable vibrational forces resulting from unbalanced conditions generally encountered during high speed yarn winding processes.

In the textile industry, bobbin chuck devices have an extensive application in spinning, Winding, and reeling of yarn. Conventional bobbin chuck devices employ pivotal, resilient, and screw means to provide conjoint rotation of a bobbin mounted thereon.

Bobbin chuck devices of known construction possess disadvantages. One of the problems encountered in the use of a conventional bobbin chuck device is that of unbalance. Unbalance causes harmful vibratory displacement of the components of the chuck device. Vibration becomes more pronounced during high speeds because the frequency and the degree of displacement, the latter sometimes being referred to as Wandering or running out of the shaft of the bobbin chuck device from its normal axis of rotation, is increased to the extent that safe and efficient operation is adversely affected. Solutions proposed, such as providing flexible shafts and elastic mountings, for overcoming vibration are costly, complicated, and unsatisfactory.

Another problem is that of critical speed. Critical speed signifies a certain speed at which the rotating shaft of a bobbin chuck device becomes unstable. Vibration occurs when the rotational speed of the shaft in revolutions per second corresponds to the natural frequency of lateral displacement of the shaft. Present bobbin chuck devices are characterized by having high critical speeds, and since vibration is more severe at high critical speeds, these devices are found to be objectionable.

Many conventional bobbin chuck devices also fail to maintain central alignment of the bobbin with the shaft axis during operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved bobbin chuck device adapted to minimize vibrational forces caused by unbalanced conditions. Another object is to provide a bobbin chuck device characterized by having a low critical speed. Another object is to provide a simple and an economical bobbin chuck device including flexible grip means for positively gripping the bore of a bobbin mounted thereon and for maintaining central alignment of the bobbin thereon. Another object is to provide a bobbin chuck device incorporating flexible means for readily mounting and for easily removing a bobbin therefrom. A further object is to provide a bobbin chuck device for controlling the degree of run-out and wandering of the shaft of a bobbin chuck device by tending to keep the center of mass of the bobbin and the package wound on the bobbin coincident with the normal axis of rotation.

According to the invention, an improved bobbin chuck device of the above type embodying the invention is provided. In brief, a specific arrangement of the improved bobbin chuck device comprises an elongated shaft which is adapted to be driven and which is provided with a bobbin receiving portion. The bobbin receiving portion has a plurality of flexible means spacially secured along 33%,332 Patented June 11, 19%3 "ice its peripheral surface. The flexible means are of a predetermined length and each projects outwardly from the periphery of the bobbin receiving portion at an angle to a corresponding radial plane.

The flexible means are designed to permit a bobbin to be readily mounted axially and slidingly thereover. By applying a twist to the bobbin when mounting it over the flexible means, the latter are deflected and compressed inwardly toward the axis of the bobbin receiving portion of the shaft. When the bobbin is in its mounted position, the flexible means push against the wall of the bore of the bobbin and apply a gripping or clutching force for locking the bobbin thereon. In operation, centrifugal force causes the flexible means to fan out and to grip the bobbin with even a greater force. The flexible means also serve to keep the bobbin centered on the bobbin receiving portion during operation.

The bobbin is mounted floatably on the shaft and if vibration due to unbalanced conditions is encountered during high speeds causing the center of mass of the package and bobbin to become located outside of the normal axis of rotation thereof, the bobbin will shift so that it will rotate about its relocated center of mass. This self-adjustment of the bobbin tends to reduce the degree of vibration by controlling the degree of run-out to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, which is intended merely to be illustrative and not limitative.

in the acompanying drawing:

FEGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a bobbin mounted on the bobbin chuck device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view show ing a modification of the inventive chuck device; and,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

In the several figures in the drawing like components are designated by the same reference numerals for reasons of simplicity of identification.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1 and 2, the improved bobbin chuck device 1 embodying the invention comprises an elongated shaft 2 threaded at one end 3 thereof and being rotatably mounted at its Opposite end within a bore 4- extending through a hollow cylindrical member 5. Cylindrical member 5 has an annular flange 6 formed at one end thereof. Flange 6 is fixedly secured to a base 7 by screws 8 extending through openings provided in the flange.

Shaft 2 is rotatably mounted within bore "4 by a pair of spaced bearings, 9 and lb, coaxially mounted on shaft 2. A sleeve 11, also coaxiaily mounted 'on shaft 2, separates bearings 9 and it). The bearings are retained on shaft 2 by a retainer ring 12 positioned in a groove formed on shaft 2 outwardly of bearing 10. An annular spacer element 1 3 is positioned in a counterbore formed in flange 6 and serves to space bearing 10 from base '7.

A cup-shaped hoilow drive member 14, which has a skirt l5 and which is closed at one end thereof, is mounted fixedly and coaxially on shaft 2 adjacent a bore extending through said closed end thereof and at a point above bearing 9. Drive member 14 is mounted on shaft 2 in spaced concentric surroundment of cylindrical member 5 with the skirt 15 projecting toward base 7. Another smaller annular spacer element 17 is mounted on shaft 2 and serves to space member 14 from bearing 9.

The outer cylindrical surface of drive member 14 is divided into larger and smaller diameter portions by a shoulder '18. The larger diameter portion is threaded 3 near shoulder 18, and a waste spool 19, with internal threads, is mounted screw-threadingly on the larger diameter portion of drive member 14.

A sheave 20 is keyed to drive member 14 adjacent waste spool 19 on the larger diameter portion by suitable keys 21. An annular retainer flange 22 is press-fit on the larger diameter portion of skirt to retain sheave thereon.

A plurality of annular grip members 23, of circular brush-like construction, are mounted in spaced and coaxial relation along the linear length of the portion of shaft 2 projecting outwardly from drive member 14. A plurality of spacers 24 are also coaxially mounted on shaft 2 along the linear length thereof. Each spacer 24 is positioned between a pair of grip members 23. An annular washer '25 having a predetermined outer diameter is provided at the upper threaded end of shaft 2. Grip members 23, spacers 24, and washer 25 are clampingly secured on shaft 2 by a nut 26 having screwthreaded engagement with the threaded portion 3 of shaft2.

Each grip member 23 comprises a hollow support ring 27, C-shaped in cross section, having a continuous circular slot or opening at its outer side. A plurality of flexible strips, or pin fins 28, of a predetermined length and formed of a. spring material, are fixedly clamped at one end thereof within the slot in ring 27. Strips 28 extend angularly outwardly of the openings in rings 27 at substantially the .same angle in relation to respective radial planes projected from the axes of the rings 27. This provides a common circumferential inclined sweep of all of the strips 28 in the same direction. The direction of inclined sweep, either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, is determined according to the direction in which shaft 2 is to rotate when operated; that is, counterclockwise if shaft 2 is to rotate clockwise and clockwise if shaft 2 is to rotate counterclockwise. In application, strips 28 in each ring 27 should be of such a length that their outer free ends are normally circumscribed by a circle of a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the bore of the bobbin with which device '1 is to be associated.

Prior to operation, a bobbin 29 is mounted axially on shaft 2 by sliding one end of the bobbin over strips 28 at the threaded end 3 or mounting end of shaft 2. Bobbin 29 is then pushed into its mounted position, defined by the bobbin engaging shoulder 18 of drive member 14. Bobbin 29 will readily slide to its mounted position if a slight twist is applied in the same direction as the direction of sweep of the flexible strips 28 when it is pushed on device 1. When bobbin 29 is in its mounted position, strips 28 will be deflected and compressed inwardly toward shaft 2. Bobbin 29 is thus locked on shaft 2 by the force of strips 28 acting against the wall of the bore of the bobbin.

In operation, bobbin chuck device 1 is driven by power means, not shown, connected to sheave 20 by a beltdrive arrangement 30 for rotating drive member 14 and drive shaft 2. As shaft 2 begins to rotate, centrifugal force will cause flexible strips 28 to spread at their outer free ends in fan-like manner and to apply an increased gripping force against the wall of the bore of bobbin 29. The flexible strips 28 provide strong torsional and a flexible radial engagement between the shaft and the bobbin.

If no unbalancing forces are encountered, the center of mass and the normal axis of rotation of the rotating components of bobbin chuck device 1, the package on the bobbin, and the bobbin will be in coincident relation, and no harmful vibrational forces will be experienced. In this normal operating condition flexible strips 28 maintain central alignment of bobbin 29 on shaft 2.

However, if unbalance develops during operation, device 1 is adapted to make an adjustment to lessen the vibration. To better understand the adjustment made oses-2 A, by device 3;, the operation of a conventional bobbin chuck device under vibratory conditions is explained first.

Ordinarily, when unbalanced conditions are experienced with the use of a conventional bobbin chuck device, the forces of disequilibrium cause the center of mass of the rotating components to be displaced laterally from the normal axis of rotation a certain distance as determined by the severity of unbalance. This condition causes the bobbin chuck device to vibrate and, consequently, to cause both non-uniform winding of yarn and dangerous operating conditions.

In application, the desirable condition is one where the center of mass of the rotating components and the normal axis of rotation are coincident. In a condition of unbalance, however, the axis of rotation does not pass through the center of mass of a body. Consequently, where no provision is made to permit adjustment of the axis of rotation in relation to the center of mass, vibration is not controlled.

With the use of device 1 embodying the invention, when unbalanced conditions are encountered, flexible strips 23 permit bobbin 29 to adjust to the forces of unbalance by shifting its position relative to shaft 2 so that it rotates about the unbalanced center of mass. This adjustment tends to keep the center of mass from being displaced too far from the nonmal axis of rotation of shaft 2 and thereby keeps vibration down to a minimum. The degree of tilting or shifting of the bobbin is controlled by washer 25 at one end of shaft 2 and by the smaller diameter portion of drive member 14, both having the same diameters, slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore of bobbin 29.

Another advantage of the improved bobbin chuck device 1 is its inherent lower critical speed as compared to conventional devices. The low critical speed is at tributed to the flexible connection provided by strips 28 between the bore of bobbin 29 and shaft 2. Ordinarily, where the connection is more rigid it has been found that the critical speed will be higher. It is desirable in processing .to use a bobbin chuck device having a low critical speed for purposes of safety and efliciency. Because device 1 has a low critical speed, the devive will pass through its critical speed during the period of acceleration to a normal operating speed, generally, before any yarn is wound on the bobbin. This is advantageous because if later, after device 1 has passed through the critical speed, the yarn package on the bobbin should become unbalanced then, the relocated center of mass will tend to move toward the normal axis of rotation and thus restore balance.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the improved bobbin chuck device 1. A tubular sleeve 31 is coaxially mounted on shaft 2. Sleeve 31 has longitudinal slots 32 formed therein which extend inwardly from the outer periphery of sleeve 31 at an angle to respective radial planes projected from the axis of shaft 2. Elongated flexible blades or vanes 33, which may be formed of a phenolic composition, are positioned within slots 32. The outer free ends of vanes 33 are normally circumscribed by a circle which, preferably, is of wider diameter than the diameter of the bore of the bobbin to be associated with the vanes.

In operation, flexible vanes 33 function similarly to flexible strips 28. When unbalanced conditions exist flexible vanes 33 permit bobbin 29 to shift on shaft 2 to correct for a shift in position of the center of mass, thereby minimizing vibration.

The improved bobbin chuck device 1 is simple in construction and is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is contemplated that various modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the device 1 may be modified to permit the bobbin to be surface driven such as by friction of an external drive roll. The invention is not intended to be limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bobbin chuck device, for rotatably carrying a tubular bobbin comprising, an elongated bobbin receiving member adapted to be rotatably driven, a plurality of annular grip rings mounted coaxially on said bobbin receiving member, each of said annular grip rings carrying circumferential brushes formed from a multiplicity of flexible strips of predetermined length extending outwardly therefrom and being arranged circumferentially in a common inclined sweep to respective radial planes, the outer free ends of said flexible strips normally being circumscribed by a circle having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of said bobbin, said flexible strips serving to grip said bobbin normally mounted coaxially about said flexible strips and being effective to permit said bobbin to shift position on said bobbin receiving member to control conditions of unbalance, limit means carried on said bobbin receiving member for limiting the degree of shifting of said bobbin thereon, and clamping means associated with said bobbin receiving member for clamping said plurality of annular grip rings thereon.

2. A bobbin chuck device, as clairned in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of annular spacer members coaxially mounted on said bobbin receiving member in alternate relation with said plurality of annular grip rings, said plurality of annular spacer members and said plurality of annular grip rings being clamped on said bobbin receiving member by said clamping means.

3. A bobbin chuck device, for rotatably carrying a tubular bobbin, comprising an elongated shaft threaded O at one end thereof and being rotatably journaled at its opposite end, journal means for journal-ing said shaft at its opposite end thereof, drive means fixedly secured to said elongated shaft adjacent said journaled end thereof,

o 9 power means operatively connected to said drive means for driving the latter, a plurality of annular grip rings mounted coaxially on said elongated shaft intermediate its ends thereof, each of said annular grip rings carrying circumferential brushes formed from a multiplicity of flexible strips of predetermined length secured within said annular grip rings and extending outwardly therefrom in a common circumferential inclined sweep to respective radial planes, the outer free ends of said flexible strips normally being circumscribed by a circle having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of said bobbin, said flexible strips serving to grip said bobbin normally mounted coaxially about said multiplicity of flexible strips, and being effective to permit said bobbin to shift position on said elongated shaft to control conditions of unbalance, a plurality of annular spacer members coaxially mounted on said elongated shaft in alternate relation with said plurality of annular grip rings for spacing the latter on said elongated shaft, limit means carried on said elongated shaft for limiting the degree of shifting of said bobbin, and clamping means having connection with said threaded end of said elongated shaft for clamping said plurality of annular grip means and said plurality of annular spacer members on said elongated shaft.

4. A bobbin chuck device, for rotatably carrying a tubular bobbin, comprising an elongated shaft threaded at one end thereof, a pair of spaced bearings mounted coaxially on the other end of said shaft, a sleeve coaxially surrounding said shaft between said pair of bearings for spacing the latter, a hollow member having a bore therethrough and a flange at one end thereof provided with openings for securing said member to a base, said other end of said shaft being journaled Within said bore of said hollow member, a hollow drive member having a skirt portion and a closed end with a central transverse opening extending therethrough, said skirt portion having a small and a larger diameter surface, said hollow drive member being coaxially and fixedly mounted on said elongated shaft adjacent said transverse opening in said closed end in concentric surroundment of and in spaced relation from said hollow member, a sheave secured on said larger diameter surface of said skirt portion of said hollow drive member, belt means mounted on said sheave for driving said hollow drive member, a plurality of annular grip rings mounted coaxially on said elongated shaft intermediate said hollow drive member and said one end of said elongated shaft, each of said plurality of annular grip rings carrying circumferential brushes formed from a multiplicity of flexible strips of predetermined length secured Within said annular grip rings and extending outwardly therefrom in a common circumferential inclined sweep to respective radial planes, the outer free ends of said flexible strips normally being circumscribed by a circle having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of said bobbin, said multiplicity of flexible strips serving to grip said bobbin normally mounted coaxially about said flexible strips and being effective to permit said bobbin to shift position on said elongated shaft to control conditions of unbalance, a plurality of annular spacer members coaxially mounted on said elongated shaft in alternate relation with said plurality of annular grip rings for spacing the latter on said elongated shaft, limit means carried on said elongated shaft for limiting the degree of shifting of said bobbin thereon, and clamping means having connection with said threaded end of said elongated shaft for clamping said plurality of annular grip means and said plurality of annular spacer members on said elongated shaft.

Allen Sept. 6, 1904 Brown Apr. 2, 1918 

1. A BOBBIN CHUCK DEVICE, FOR ROTATABLY CARRYING A TUBULAR BOBBIN COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED BOBBIN RECEIVING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ROTATABLY DRIVEN, A PLURALITY OF ANNULAR GRIP RINGS MOUNTED COAXIALLY ON SAID BOBBIN RECEIVING MEMBER, EACH OF SAID ANNULAR GRIP RINGS CARRYING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BRUSHES FORMED FROM A MULTIPLICITY OF FLEXIBLE STRIPS OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AND BEING ARRANGED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN A COMMON INCLINED SWEEP TO RESPECTIVE RADIAL PLANES, THE OUTER FREE ENDS OF SAID FLEXIBLE STRIPS NORMALLY BEING CIRCUMSCRIBED BY A CIRCLE HAVING A DIAMETER LARGER THAN THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID BOBBIN, SAID FLEXIBLE STRIPS SERVING TO GRIP SAID BOBBIN NORMALLY MOUNTED COAXIALLY ABOUT SAID FLEXIBLE STRIPS AND BEING EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT SAID BOBBIN TO SHIFT POSITION ON SAID BOBBIN RECEIVING MEMBER TO CONTROL CONDITIONS OF UNBALANCE, LIMIT MEANS CARRIED ON SAID BOBBIN RECEIVING MEMBER FOR LIMITING THE DEGREE OF SHIFTING OF SAID BOBBIN THEREON, AND CLAMPING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BOBBIN RECEIVING MEMBER FOR CLAMPING SAID PLURALITY OF ANNULAR GRIP RINGS THEREON. 